The Devil tends to be seen as the personification of Evil, or Lucifer, who, incidentally, was originally supposed to bring enlightenment to the world. It does need to be borne in mind, however, that the Devil also represents the Ego, or part of us that refuses to 'return to the light'. n In order to deal with the out-of-control side of ourselves, we often need to have an object or image to confront. In dreams, as in fantasies, the Devil allows us to do this. If we fear our own wrongdoing, that fear can also manifest as the Devil. In previous times, the figure of the Devil was one to be feared and hated. Our wilder, more instinctive side will often appear in dreams as the conventional figure with horns and a tail. Once it is understood as something to be confronted, as something belonging to all of us, the Devil loses its potency. The Devil as Satan used to appear with some frequency in both mens and womens dreams. Now the image is more likely to be that of one of the Nature Gods such as Pan, and represents basic instincts and urges. You may also wish to consult the entries for Demon, Fiend and Imp.